Dula painting
Suzy Larsen’s First Breath is inspired by the Dula, or midwife. A role requiring great fortitude and gentleness, the Dula helps bring new life into the world, to take the very first breath. What perfume or rancid xenophobia exists in this moment, or is the smell of the world the norm by the time an infant is aware of the variation in each inhalation? First Breath opens with white spruce and citrus, made new with green pepper with motherly lavender absolute, a lung expanding freshness worthy of the perfume’s name.
Mother and Child Alfio Presotto 1940 Italian surrealist painter
Regardless, newborns have an estimated 100 billion neurons at birth (as many stars as the milky way), multiplying to some 3 trillion by age three. How many connections will be inadvertently (and if willing, intentionally) be sealed by scent? It is widely known the infant is quickly forming bonds with the mother, the majority by scent and milk. (Fathers would be wise to be aware of the aromas they are subjecting their children to as well as the long term associations possible.) What keen observations could the newborn nose tell us, and would we listen? Do they smell the artifice of our perfumed endeavors? Do they remember a perfume from Paradise? Perhaps something like the heart of First breath, unconditional floral love from neroli, rose and jasmine.
Sleeping Baby Irina Sztukowsk
Kabbalist lore tells us the angel Laila touches an infant on the upper lip before or at the moment of birth causing the child to forget everything they know of the universe; similarly, Christian lore tells us of Adam turning back for one last gaze at the Garden of Eden, whereupon the flaming sword of the angel Michael causes the same philtrum. Either way, we’ll never know and the babies aren’t telling.
Sensous Woman Dreaming by Israeli born Artist Yigal Ozeri
Make no mistake, this is not a perfume FOR babies, nor should it be confused with something only for the maternity ward- there are strangers with candy and notes which may seem rather dubious hanging near the monkey bars. Armoise, clary sage and oakmoss give piquant, warm green and black currant, sage and hyrax keep First Breath for adults only. Drying down into the sweetness of benzoin and rose, a fresh baby blanket type bolstering aroma, First Breath makes every breath so much more sweeter for its secret keeping.
Notes: Lime, Lavender, Sage, Orange, Green Pepper, Armoise, Clary Sage, Rose, Neroli, Jasmine, Lavender Absolute, Black Currant Bud, White Spruce, Vetiver, Vanilla, Patchouli, Oakmoss, Hyrax, Benzoin.
-Einsof, Natural Perfume Editor
Suzy Larsen Canadian Natural Perfumer for Suzy Larsen Perfumes (formerly Naked Leaf)
Disclosure: sample sent by Suzy Larsen, opiions my own
Thanks to Suzy Larsen All Natural Perfumes we have a draw for TWO registered ÇaFleureBon readers in the US or Canadian reader for 5ml of First Breath. To be eligible please leave a comment about what you enjoyed about Einsof’s review and what a baby’s head smells like to you. Draw ends July 4, 2015
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